Multi-packaging device



June 1967 H. J. WANDERER MULTI-PACKAGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1965 r k l mwy m N In. W W WJ. a m H June 13, 1967 J, WANDERER 3,325,004

MULTI*PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40b Fig 11 INVENTOR. Herberf J. Wanderer BY W 500! W a His A/f'ys United States Patent 3,325,004 MULTlI-PACKAGING DEVICE Herbert J. Wanderer, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 26, 19-65, Ser. No. 428,103 2 Claims. (Cl. 20665) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A one-piece elastic multi-packaging device including first and second spaced container carrier portions joined to each other by connecting web portions with the connecting web portions and container spacer elements joined thereto cooperating to prevent engagement between adjacent containers secured together as a unit by the first and second container carrier portions.

The packaging of fragile items such as glass bottles has been accomplished by various packaging techniques including packing the items within receptacles having integral or separately attached compartments, or by placing filler material between items contained in a receptacle. This is a desirable approach where specialty items such as glassware, china and the like are involved, but is not a practical or economical approach for large volume packaging such as is necessary with glass beverage containers and the like.

In such a case, cardboard units folded and glued in a manner to provide separate compartments have primarily been used since they can be manufactured in large numbers, and at a relatively small expense per unit. These cardboard units do have some limitations in that they are deleteriously affected by high humidity, and are not always capable of withstanding the rigors of conventional use. In addition, handling and storage difficulties are encountered with these cardboard units both during the manufacture thereof and at the bottling location. Recently, relatively sturdy compartmented receptacle units made of thermoplastic material have been developed and these units have overcome at least the main disadvantages of cardboard receptacles. In so doing, however, they have increased manufacturing difliculties and the unit cost per receptacle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-packaging device which is particularly useful in the packaging of fragile items such as glass bottles and the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved multi-packaging device which will releasably secure a plurality of containers together as a group in substantially non-shifting relationship.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved multi-packaging device which prevents engagement or rubbing contact between adjacent articles secured thereby.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece multi-packaging device which firmly, yet yieldably, holds a plurality of containers together in substantially non-shifting relationship for convenient carrying of the containers.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved multi-packaging device which, in addition to the last mentioned object, permits rapid and efiicient removal of articles from the package without disturbing either the package or any remaining articles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved packaging device which, can be manufactured at low cost under mass manufacturing techniques, and assembled to a group of adjacently positioned articles without undue difiiculty.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved multi-packaging device which facilitates stacking of package units for display purposes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and showing the containers of the package in phantom lines;

FIGS. 2-3 are perspective views showing the manner in which the articles or containers of the package are assembled together;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the novel carrier blank which is used in conjunction with articles or containers in forming the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another form of package coming within the purview of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of carrier blank used with the package shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another form of package falling within the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a modified carrier blank used in connection with the package illustrated in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in which a pair of packages of either the FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 type can be stacked one above the other.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a beverage or package unit 10 having a plurality of containers 20, preferably six in number, which are held in substantially non-shifting relationship to each other by the carrier 4%). The containers 20 shown in the drawings are of the glass bottle variety which are used in dispensing beverages and other products as is well known in the art. Each of the containers 20 is preferably provided with upper and lower annular shoulders 22, 24 respectively with a cylindrical side wall 26 extending therebetween. Extending upwardly from annular shoulder 22 is a tapering wall 28 generally frustoconical in shape which terminates in an open upper end to which a bottle cap or closure member 30 is applied after the container has been filled.

As noted in the preceding discussion, carrier or receptacle members for retaining and transporting the glass containers must be so designed that they will prevent any engagement between adjacent containers and thus reduce the possibility of container damage or breakage. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the carrier is provided which is initially in the form of a die cut blank as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, and which is capable of being assembled to the containers 20 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2-3 so as to form the package shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The die cut blank is preferably made from a resilient, elastic and deformable material such as polyethylene which stretches and deforms to the shape of the containers for resiliently gripping the same as is well known in the art. The carrier blank 40 is subdivided into two carrier sections designated and respectively which are integrally joined to one another by connecting webs as will become apparent from the following discussion.

Carrier member or section 50 is provided with a plurality of annular elements 52 arranged in two juxtaposed rows, each annular element 52 having an aperture 54 which is of a peripheral size smaller than the rim portion of the bottle caps or closure members 30. The annular elements 52 stretch over the bottle caps or closure members and resiliently grip the neck or tapered wall 28 of the containers for underlying the rim portion of the bottle caps or closure members 30 as is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Removal of the annular elements 52 from underlying engagement with the rim portion of the bottle caps or closure members 30 is facilitated by the provision of tab elements 56 integrally joined to the annular members 52 along the marginal periphery thereof. The mid-portion of the carrier member 50 has a pair of substantially parallel elongated slots 58 formed therein and defining a handle strap 60 extending therebetween. The handle strap 60 will initially be coplanar with the remainder of the carrier member 50, but upon the assembly of the carrier member over the bottle caps or closure members 30, the material in the central portion of the carrier is drawn in longitudinally, thus enlarging the scalloped area. between adjacent annular elements 52, and more importantly, drawing the ends of the straps 60 closer together to deform it upwardly out of the plane of the carrier for ready grasping thereof. It will be understood that the handle strap 60 will tend to stretch slightly when grasped by a user, thereby providing adequate clearance for the fingers of the user above the botttle caps or closure members 30.

The carrier member or section 50 is joined to carrier member or section 70 by a series of connecting webs 62 which extend from and are integrally joined to the midportions of each of the carriers as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The outermost connecting webs 62 at opposite ends of the carrier blank initially diverge away from each other so as to encompass the larger carrier 70, and then assume an angular position adjacent the mid-portion of the carrier 70 to permit the carrier to be disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced upwardly from the carrier 70 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The innermost connecting webs 62 extend substantially parallel to each other and are interconnected to each other and the outermost connecting webs 62 by the cross-piece members 64 extending between and on opposite sides of the innermost connecting webs 62 as best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Finger elements 66 of generally L-shaped construction are integrally joined to the innermost connecting webs 62 and project therefrom on opposite sides of the outermost cross-piece members 64 which join the innermost and outermost connecting webs 62 at opposite sides of the carrier blank. Connecting webs 62 and crosspiece members 64 not only serve to integrally join carriers 50 and 70 to each other, but cooperate with the finger element 66 to prevent container damage or breakage as will appear from the ensuing discussion.

Carrier member 70 has a slightly different shape than the carrier 50 and is also provided with a series of interconnected annular elements 72 which are arranged in two juxtaposed rows. The apertures 74 of the annular elements 72 are also designed to be constrictive in nature in that they have a peripheral dimension smaller than the annular enlargements 24 of the containers and preferably also smaller than the cylindrical side walls 26 so that they can be stretched and deformed in the same manner as the annular elements 52 of the carrier 50. It is to be specifically noted that the annular elements 72 when assembled to the containers 20 are formed in the shape of axially extending necks which engage the containers 20 in the vicinity of the annular enlargements 24.

The assembly of the carrier blank 40 to the containers 20 is accomplished in the following manner: A plurality of containers 20 are first positioned adjacent one another with the sides thereof in substantially abutting relationship. One of the carrier members 50 or 70 of the carrier blank 40 is then assembled to the contianers. In FIG. 2 of the drawings, the carrier member 70 is shown in position on the containers 20, but it will be understood that the carrier member 50 may be first assembled to the containers if so desired. After one of the carrier members has been assembled to one end of the containers, the other carrier member is grasped either by hand or suitable apparatus and positioned adjacent the other end. In the assembly shown in FIGS. 2-3 of the drawings, the carrier 50 is depicted as being moved from its initial position where it is generally coplanar with the carrier member 70 to a position adjacent the bottle cap or closure member end of the containers.

When the carrier member 50 is thus moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3, the connecting webs 62 and cross-piece members 64 will be disposed intermediate each row of containers. Preferably, the finger elements 66 are then disposed between adjacent containers in each row as shown in FIG. 3, and the carrier 50 is then cammed over the bottle caps or closure members 30 at upper end of the containers 20. When this has been accomplished, the cross-piece members 64 and the finger elements 66 will be gripped between adjacent containers, and will serve as container spacer or cushioning elements in preventing inadvertent engagement between the containers of the package. The maintenance of the cross-piece members 64 and finger elements 66 in this position between adjacent containers is primarily due to the fact that the containers are initially placed adjacent each other with their sides close to, but spaced predetermined distances from each other, and the cross-piece members 64 and finger elements 66 have a thickness at least as great as the predetermined spacing between the containers so that when the carrier blank 40 is assembled to the containers, the cross-piece members 64 and finger elements 66 will be engaged by and retained between adjacent containers in the manner shown in the drawings.

Once the carrier blank 40 is assembled to the containers 20 in the manner described above, the containers may be conveniently transported by grasping the handle strap 60 which is disposed above the plane of the carrier 50 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The removal of individual containers from the package can be easily accomplished by merely grasping one of the tab elements 56 and forcing the annular elements 52 with which it is associated upwardly and out of engagement with the rim portion of a bottle cap or closure member 30. Then, it is a relatively simple matter to twist the container 20 and strip it from one of the annular elements 72 in the carrier 70. The removal of individual containers will not disturb the remaining containers in the package since they will be retained in assembled position by the respective carrier portions 50, 70.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. l-6 embodiment as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a employed to designate like parts. As best seen in FIG. 8, the carrier blank 4011 includes a pair of carrier members 50a, 70a generally similar to the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment. Each of these carrier members has been slightly modified as will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. 8. Elements 52a of carrier member 50a are generally elliptical in shape so as to provide apertures 54a of the same configuration.

These elements 52a will be stretched and deformed to conform to the shape of the containers when assembled therewith as seen in FIG. 7. The material portions 55 intermediate adjacent apertures of the two juxtaposed rows of elements 52a will serve to space adjacent containers in each row away from each other. The containers 20a in any one row of containers will be spaced apart by the portions 57 which interconnect the elements 52a, the connecting webs 62a and the handle 60a to each other. The handle strap or portion 60a encompasses the centrally positioned element in the uppermost row of elements 52::

and is adapted to be disposed in a plane extending substantially parallel to the axis of the container 20a when the carrier blank 40a is assembled thereto as will be discussed below.

The carrier member 70a is integrally joined to carrier member 50a by way of the connecting webs 62a. It is to be noted that the connecting Webs 62a are only two in number as compared with the four connecting webs 62 in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment. Each of the annular elements 72a of the carrier member 70a are provided with ring-like elements 76 having a diameter smaller than the apertures 74a, and being joined to the material surrounding each of the apertures 72a by a series of circumferentially spaced spoke elements 78 which extend tangentially from the ring-like element 76 and are joined to the annular element 72a at the inner margin thereof. These ring-like elements 76 and their corresponding spoke elements 7 8 are adapted to unwind when the lower end of the containers 20a is inserted within the constrictive apertures 74a so as to embrace and protect a substantial portion of the containers.

In assembling the carrier blank 40a to the containers 20a, one of the carrier members 500, 70a is first assembled to the containers 20a. In this particular embodiment, it is preferable to first assemble the carrier 70a to the lower end of the containers 20a since the containers may be readily positioned over the annular elements 72a and assembled therewith without having to deflect one of the carrier members out of the plane of the carrier blank 40a. Assuming that this is the procedure adopted, the containers 20a either individually or as a group will be inserted through the apertures 74a so as to stretch and deform the annular elements 72a in the manner described above. The coplanar ring-link elements 76 and their associated spoke elements 78 will be deflected downward-1y out of the plane of the annular elements 72 without any deformation taking place due to the configuration and manner of connecting the spoke element 76 between the annular element 72 and the ring-like element 76. More specifically, it will be appreciated that by making the spoke elements 78 curvilinear in form and having them extend tangentially away from the ring-like element 76, a relatively large amount of movement of the ring-like element 76 out of the plane of the annular elements 72 without deformation of-the webbing can be accomplished. In most cases, however, the webbing will be slightly deformed to lose part of its resilient character when in embracing position on the containers 26a. It is to be noted that the annular elements 72a will surround and encompass the containers 20a in the same manner as the FIGS. l-6 embodiment. I

Once the carrier 70a has been assembled to the lower end of the containers, the carrier member or portion 50a is grasped either by hand or suitable apparatus and deflected upwardly over the tops of the containers. The elliptical apertures 54a will be stretched and deformed when the upper end of the containers is inserted the-rethrough and will assume the position seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The upper end of adjacent containers will be spaced from each other by the material portions 55, 57 as has been previously discussed, and the lower end of adjacent containers will be spaced from one another by portions 75, 77 in carriers 79a which are complementary to portions 55 and 57 in carrier 50a.

It is to be noted that the handle 60a is to be disposed intermediate the two rows of containers when applying the elements 52a to the upper end of the containers. In this manner, the handle strap or portion 60a will assume a substantially upright position to facilitate grasping thereof. It will also be appreciated that the ring-like elements 76 associated with the carrier 70a may have an internal diameter slightly larger than that of the bottle cap or closure members 30a to permit stacking of adjacent packages with corresponding containers in each package aligned with each other. This is especially useful where the bottom walls of the container are concave axially upwards as is conventionally the case. As seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings, each of the containers a'have a bottom wall which is concave axial-1y upwards. The internal diameter of the ring-like element 76 is larger than the major diameter of the bottle cap or closure member a so as to accept or accommodate the same therewithin and permit corresponding containers in adjacent packages stacked upon one another to be aligned in the same plane without inadvertent sliding movement between the packages.

Another modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9l0 of the drawings and is generally similar to the embodiments previously discussed as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the sutfix b used to designate like parts. It will be noted that the carrier 70b is generally similar to carrier 70a as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings except for the uppermost row of elements 72 and the spoke elements 78b. The uppermost row of elements 72b are here shown as being elliptical in form to conform to the various modifications made to carrier blank b. These elliptically shaped elements 7% will act much in the same manner as the elliptical elements 52a of carrier a in that they will stretch and resiliently grip designated portions of the containers 20b. The spoke elements 7812 are not curvilinear in shape as the spoke elements 78 in the FIGS. 78 embodiment, but they will nevertheless permit a small amount of displacement of the webbing within the apertures 74b without deformation.

The essential difierence of the FIGS. 9-10 embodiment relate to the modifications made to carrier 5%. It is first of all to be noted that the annular elements 52b are not disposed in a pair of juxtaposed rows, but are located in a somewhat irregular pattern. A pair of elements 5211 are located within the confines of the handle b and are aligned in a horizontal plane, whereas the other elements 52]) positioned outside of the handle 6% are angularly offset to each other and to the elements confined by the handle 60]). Tab elements 56b are again provided on each of the annular elements 52!) since they are designed to engage beneath the trim portion of the bottle cap or closure member 30b in each container as in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment.

The connecting webs joining the carriers 50b and b are also interconnected to each other by way of the crosspiece members 6417 located intermediate thereof. There is also a pair of cross-piece members 64b located outside of the connecting webs 62b which diverge away from each other and terminate in finger elements 66b. In this embodiment, the cross-piece members 64b space the containers in each row away from each other, and cooperate with the material portions b, 77b in the carrier member 70b at the lower end of the containers to prevent container engagement.

Carrier blank 4% is assembled to the containers 20b in much the same manner as the previously d'scussed embodiments. After the containers have been inserted through the constrictive apertures 74b of the carrier 70b, the carrier Stlb is positioned adjacent the upper end of the containers. Then, each of the elements 52b are cammed over the bottle caps or closure members 3015 into underlying engagement with the rim portion thereof. It is to be noted that the outermost pairs of annular elements 52b engage the outermost containers in the package, and the pair of elements 52b confined within the handle strap 60b will resiliently grip the innermost pair of containers.

It is important that the cross-piece members 64b are disposed intermediate the rows of containers to aid in preventing container engagement, and this may mean that some of the annular elements will have to be assembled to the containers at different times as in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the present invention contemplates a novel and unique onepiece elastic multi-packaging device which effectively secures a plurality of fragile articles together as a unit while maintaining the articles at predetermined distances from each other until removed from the package. In certain forms of the invention, the articles are held in nonshifting positions by elements adapted to be positioned therebetween, while in other forms, one or both of the carrier devices themselves may serve to space the articles away from each other. Bottle protecting and stacking elernents as well as carrier removal means have been disclosed herein and may be employed in connection with one or more of the forms of the multi-pack-aging device as desired.

The specific examples of the invention as herein shown and described are to be understood as being illustrative only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art and will be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 A carrier package comprising a plurality of adjacently positioned containers arranged in two transverse rows, and carrier means for embracing and securing said containers adjacent opposite ends thereof to maintain said containers in positions corresponding to the initial container placement, said carrier means comprising a substantially unsupported sheet of stretchable plastic material having coplanar first and second spaced container carrier portions joined to each other by connecting web portions, said connecting web portions being joined to said first and second carrier portions in such a manner that said carrier portions are capable of being positioned in superposed relationship to one another for engaging said containers adjacent opposite ends thereof, said first and second container carrier portions each having a plurality of constrictive apertures therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the transverse rows of containers which are adapted to be stretched by said containers for resiliently gripping and retaining the containers in the aforementioned manner, at least some of said connecting webs adapted to be positioned intermediate the two transverse rows of containers to serve as container cushioning elements, container spacer elements joined to said connecting web portions and being capable of disposition between adjacent containers in each of the two transverse rows to prevent engagement therebetween, and integral handle means secured to one of said container carrier portions for transporting said containers.

2. A one-piece carrier blank adapted to be distorted for retaining and transporting a plurality of containers in substantially fixed positions, comprising a substantially flat and unsupported sheet of resilient, elastic and deformable material and having integral container carrying, spacing and handle portions, said container carrying portion having spaced first and second carrier members each being provided with a plurality of constrictive apertures corresponding to the number of containers and adapted to engage said containers adjacent opposite ends thereof. the material adjacent each of the apertures in said first and second carrier members being substantially continuous and having a peripheral dimension less than that of a corresponding container whereby to cause the material adjacent each aperture to stretch and deform upon the insertion of the containers for gripping and resiliently engaging the same, said spacing portion being associated with at least one of said carrier members and adapted to be disposed between adjacent containers for cooperation with said first and second carrier members to prevent lateral displacement of said containers, said handle portion being in the form of a handle strap associated with one of said carrier members and adapted to be positioned adjacent the uppermost extremity of said containers when said carrier blank is assembled thereto, and means associated with material adjacent the apertures in at least one of said carrier members for protecting and resiliently supporting the end of each of said containers, each of the means associated with the material adjacent the apertures in at least one of said carrier members comprising a ringlike element having a diameter smaller than the aperture with which it is to be associated and being joined to the material surrounding its respective aperture by a series of circumferentially spaced spoke elements extending tangentially from said ring-like element and being joined to the material surrounding said apertures at the inner margin thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,804,234 8/1957 Lachance 220116 2,994,426 8/ 1961 Biesecker et al 20665 3,225,959 12/1965 Jamison 220102 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Eraminer. WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER PACKAGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ADJACENTLY POSITIONED CONTAINERS ARRANGED IN TWO TRANSVERSE ROWS, AND CARRIER MEANS FOR EMBRACING AND SECURING SAID CONTAINERS ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO MAINTAIN SAID CONTAINER IN POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE INITIAL CONTAINER PLACEMENT, SAID CARRIER MEANS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNSUPPORTED SHEET OF STRETCHABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING COPLANAR FIRST AND SECOND SPACED CONTAINER CARRIER PORTIONS JOINED TO EACH OTHER BY CONNECTING WEB PORTIONS, SAID CONNECTING WEB PORTIONS BEING JOINED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND CARRIER PORTIONS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID CARRIER PORTIONS ARE CAPABLE OF BEING POSITIONED IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER FOR ENGAGING SAID CONTAINERS ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINER CARRIER PORTIONS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONSTRICTIVE APERTURES THEREIN CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND ARRANGEMENT TO THE TRANSVERSE ROWS OF CONTAINERS WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO BE STRETCHED BY SAID CONTAINERS FOR RESILIENTLY GRIPPING AND RETAINING THE CONTAINERS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED MANNER, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID CONNECTING WEBS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE TWO TRANSVERSE ROWS, OF CONTAINERS TO SERVE AS CONTAINER CUSHIONING ELEMENTS, CONTAINER SPACER ELEMENTS JOINED TO SAID CONNECTING WEB PORTIONS AND BEING CAPABLE OF DISPOSITION BETWEEN ADJACENT CONTAINERS IN EACH OF THE TWO TRANSVERSE ROWS TO PREVENT ENGAGEMENT THEREBETWEEN, AND INTEGRAL HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO ONE OF SAID CONTAINER CARRIER PORTIONS FOR TRANSPORTING SAID CONTAINERS. 